How Far Does a Sex Offender Have to Live From a School?
We get this question a lot. And if you’re wondering the same, we don’t blame you one bit. The thought that there could be sex offenders living in your neighborhood is extremely scary. So how far do sex offenders have to live from a school. More on that in a second. First, let’s take a trip down TV memory lane.
Do you remember the show America’s Most Wanted? The show aired in the ’80s, ‘90s, and early 2000s on Fox (it was recently resurrected, but the format is slightly different now).
The series portrayed dangerous fugitives on the run through reenactments. Murderers. Serial Killers. Sex offenders. You name it. Each week, viewers were invited to call a tipline if they had any information on the featured cases.
John Walsh hosted the weekly show. He was (and still is) a household name in reality television. He’s also a bit of a national hero.
You Can Thank John Walsh for Knowing Where Do Sex Offenders Live
We have Walsh to thank for the modern-day sex offender registry and the laws that stipulate how far do sex offenders have to live from school.
Here’s the backstory…
In 1981, John’s son Adam was abducted from a department store in Florida. His remains were found 16 days after the abduction. It was an unthinkable crime, but the Walsh family went on to do some incredible things in Adam’s honor.
Shortly after his son’s murder, John Walsh went on to create the Adam Walsh Child Resource Center, which was focused on reforming current legislation in the hopes of protecting children.
In 2006, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was signed into law. It categorizes sex offenders into three separate tiers. The law is also responsible for merging all state sex offender registries into a single national database.
State Laws Help Keep Sex Offenders Away From Schools
But it’s not just a database that keeps parents safe. Throughout the United States, there are laws on the books that stipulate how many miles can a sex offender live from a school. These state laws are designed to keep those who’ve been convicted of a serious crime from being near children.
And it’s not just schools. Several states include schools, daycares, parks, and playgrounds in their legislation — all under the umbrella of Child Safety Zones.
Can a registered sex offender be around kids? Yes and no. In most jurisdictions, sex offenders aren’t allowed to be within 1,000 feet of a school. But there’s nothing stopping them from hanging out where children may congregate — like a mall, an amusement park, or a movie theater
Quick Facts About School Distance Laws
The laws vary from state to state. While a required distance of 1,000 feet is common in most states, some jurisdictions require that any sex offender living near school must live at least 2,000 feet or more away.
There are local laws too. Unhappy with how far does a sex offender have to live from a school, some cities and towns have tried to pass their own laws that require offenders to live even farther away than what’s on the books.
These laws can cause homelessness. Can a registered sex offender be around kids? If you’re a parent (or anyone with a soul), you know the answer should be absolutely not. But legal minds focused on human rights have argued that placing limitations on how many miles can a sex offender live from a school can actually cause homelessness.
Some courts have ruled against restrictions. The argument? You can’t deny someone a place to live. Tell that to parents who have to worry whenever their kids are exploring the neighborhood with friends or alone.
These restrictions bring peace of mind. Knowing where to sex offenders live can actually help strengthen a community. When everyone is united in keeping their kids safe, they’ll get to know each other and, ultimately, watch out for each other.
How to Find Out if Sex Offenders Live Near Your School
Can sex offender live near a school? You probably think the answer is no. After all, 1,000 feet sounds like a lot. But it really isn’t. And neither is 2,500 feet. That’s not even half-a-mile.
And what happens if you take schools out of the equation? The truth is there’s nothing stopping a sex offender from hanging out in your community in places that your kids frequent, like the grocery store, a coffee shop, or pretty much anywhere else.
So what can you do? Use Searqle. The powerful tool lets you find out if there are any sex offenders living in your city or town.
How Searqle Keeps Your Kids Safe
Searqle is a powerful search tool that lets you look up people by name, phone number, email address, and more. It also has a dedicated Sex Offenders Search tool.
If you suspect that someone might be an offender, you can look them up by first name and last name. And if you don’t know their name, you can search by City, ZIP code, and State. Just punch in the info, hit Search, and let Searqle do its thing.
When your report is ready, you’ll know all kinds of information, including their sex, age, height, weight, and eye color. But you want more info than that. You want to know why they’re on the list.
And you’ll know exactly that. Searqle includes a detailed report of their convictions. You’ll also know their exact address, any aliases they’ve used in the past, and so much more.
Searqle is a powerful tool. Give it a try and feel better about the people living near your kids.
